April 2013

The incomparable music star and activist Willie Nelson turns a glorious 80-years-old today. The occasion is marked by the recently released album, Let’s Face The Music And Dance recorded by Willie and the Family, his touring band (started with sister Bobbie in 1973) for the past 40 years.

Play this album of 20th century classics and standards of pop, rock, jazz, and country loud and light a birthday candle for the man who takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Canadian electro pop singer-songwriter Valerie Anne Poxleitner, more commonly known as Lights, released the skillfully chill sophomore album Siberia in 2011, and now unplugs for an even more laid-back version. Lights challenged herself to recreate these memorable tunes with acoustic guitar and piano, and we’re now psyched to share Siberia (Acoustic) with an exclusive bonus track called “Fourth Dimension” just for Rdio listeners.

This week’s new music is all about celebrating the unconventional, whether it’s with the first full-length release in almost a decade from Long Island rapper R.A. the Rugged Man, the eighth album from Finnish love-metalheads HIM, the debut from L.A. indie pop darlings Youngblood Hawke, or the slump-beating sophomore effort from American doom metal band Howl.

We’ve curated the best of this week’s selections into this New Music Weekly playlist, which is supported by the playlist notes below. Don’t forget that if more, more, more is how you like it, the Rdio New Releases has even more for you to explore.

PLAYLIST NOTES

Iggy & The Stooges - Ready to Die
A self-destructive theme rocks through the fifth album — and first since 2007 — from Michigan’s finest.

The Airborne Toxic Event - Such Hot Blood
The SoCal indie rock band’s third album (and second for Island) was conceived mostly on the road.

Kenny Chesney - Life on a Rock
“Pirate Flag,” the single from the country crooner’s 16th album was such a hit that his tour started early.

!!! - Thr!!!er
The band pronounced chk chk chk exclaims a cheeky name for the fifth album.

Os Mutantes - Fool Metal Jack
The legendary Brazilian psychedelic rockers, reunited in 2006, celebrate a legacy of 47 years with an English language album.

From classics like Blood Sugar Sex Magik to more recent releases like Stadium Arcadium to forever favourites like Californication and One Hot Minute, there’s now plenty of Red Hot Chili Peppers action on Rdio to spice up your ears to whatever level of heat you desire. The L.A.-bred band is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year with the verve and effervescence of musicians much younger and greener — evidence that RHCP shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you start at the beginning or work backwards from the newest releases, the catalog is sure to offer insights, surprises, and old favourites.

We’re giving you a quick taste of the Chili Peppers with our RHCP Retrospective playlist — rock on below.

As if you need another excuse to hit the snooze button, this month’s Developer App, Wake Up, rouses you awake with your favourite Rdio playlist.

Download Wake Up, an alarm clock app that lulls you to sleep and gets you going with any Rdio playlist you create or subscribe to. Pick your morning mix, customize your snooze time, and set your alarm. There’s even an Airplay feature so that you can wirelessly stream to other devices without ever getting out of bed.

The app itself is visually dynamic and minimal to a fault — am/pm is “set automatically” which means that the app chooses the meridiem based on 12-hour intervals. So if you want a 7:00am alarm, you will need to wait until 7:00pm to set it. Follow developer David Brunow and designer Jenni Leder on Twitter for future updates.

We’ve lovingly crafted this New Music Weekly playlist to offer you the best of what’s out there right now. And if you want to launch a mission of discovery on your own, greet the entire batch of Rdio New Releases and get to listening!

PLAYLIST NOTES

Michael Bublé - To Be Loved
Yesterday the Canadian jazz crooner was hosting the Juno Awards but today he drops his eighth album, which was preceded by the single “It’s a Beautiful Day.”

Phoenix - Bankrupt!
Fresh from a star set at Coachella (with special guest R. Kelly), the heavenly French alt-rockers drop a fifth album of cheeky tunes like “Trying To Be Cool” and “Drakkar Noir.”

Snoop Lion - Reincarnated
Ready for reggae from a legendary rap star? Snoop looks to the islands for inspiration on this album, which includes a great collaboration with his daughter Cori B. You can also follow Snoop on Rdio.

Wild Nothing - “A Dancing Shell”
One-man dream pop act Jack Tatum, who Pitchfork called “simply one of the best songwriters in this field,” is back to offer a taste of the forthcoming third album with this single.

During your audio explorations of Rdio you may have noticed new and recent offerings from the likes of Diplo’s party project Major Lazer, Brooklyn’s psychedelic pop stars Yeasayer, or stately Detroit singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens. These and many more albums new to Rdio hail from Secretly Canadian, a record label and distributor not-so-obviously based in Bloomington, Indiana. The label has been home to such diverse acts as experimentalists The Books, rock group Explosions In The Sky, indie darlings Dirty Projectors, Swedish pop act Jens Lekman, and the late Jason Molina’s alt-country project Songs: Ohia.

The Secretly Canadian catalog has grown to almost 800 titles since its inception in 1996. The company has even branched out to include sister labels Jagjaguwar, best known for the success of indie folk band Bon Iver, and Dead Oceans, the latter a recent addition boasting luminaries like John Vanderslice. Secretly Canadian includes its own distribution arm, SC Distribution, which was founded in 1997 and now distributes labels like Cloud Recordings, FatCat Records, K Records, The Social Registry, and Western Vinyl, to name just a few.

We suggest beginning what could be an epic journey of discovery with a couple cult classic albums from otherworldly singer slash modern goth princess Zola Jesus and Seattle’s hyper-catchy prog pop indie rock band Minus The Bear, two releases which instantly captivate open ears and also wonderfully hint at the wide spectrum of Secretly Canadian.

A little birdie might have told you that Twitter #music launched today. We’re thrilled to be part of the new Twitter #music experience — it’s built for music discovery, just like Rdio.

With the Twitter #music app for the web and iOS, you’ll be able to see what tunes are trending, discover emerging talent, get recommendations based on your taste, and follow what people are listening to. Everyone gets to hear a 30 second preview but when you connect with Rdio, you can play the full track.

Don’t have an Rdio account yet? Sign up for free now and try the Rdio Unlimited mobile app for 14 days without pulling out the plastic.

This is one of those weeks where you might find yourself wishing that you had more than one pair of ears to take in all the new music at once. There are many anticipated albums that have finally emerged today, including album number six from both respected New York rapper Styles P and Portland lo-fi masters The Thermals, the hit full-length from British singer-songwriter Olly Murs, and a Nashville recording from Swedish metal act Ghost B.C..

The New Music Weekly playlist is a careful curation of the very best of this week’s offerings for your listening pleasure. After listening, don’t forget you can also choose to dive into the whole catalog of fresh cuts in the Rdio New Releases section.

PLAYLIST NOTES

Major Lazer - Free The Universe
Diplo’s party-heavy second album under the multi-faceted Major Lazer guise features collaborations with Wyclef Jean, Bruno Mars, Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, Shaggy, and more.

Kid Cudi - Indicud
The rapper slash actor’s third album (and the last for Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label) features guest spots by hip-hop luminaries RZA and Too $hort as well as improbable pals Father John Misty and Michael Bolton.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito (Deluxe)
Karen O and company return for an exceptionally raw fourth album that exposes a darker and moodier side to the band.

Jessie Ware - [Devotion][10]
This debut from the soulful British pop singer who just crushed it at Coachella has already gone top five in the U.K.

Sean Kingston featuring Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa - “Beat It”
The Jamaican-American singer bounces back from a near-death jet skiing accident in 2011 to deliver a taste of his forthcoming album Back 2 Life.

This week is a particularly good one for fresh and distinctive voices in music, including the debut from young French dance producer Breakbot, Swedish electro duo The Knife’s first album in seven years, the fifth solo album by indie rock star Kurt Vile, and M83’s thrilling soundtrack to Tom Cruise’s new film Oblivion.

Don’t be intimidated by the volume of what’s out there (or the volume you choose to play it at); the New Music Tuesday playlist, assisted by the Playlist Notes below, will get you up to speed with the best of the new bunch right away. And there’s even more to consider over in the Rdio New Releases.

PLAYLIST NOTES

Paramore - Paramore
This is the band’s genre-breaking fourth album and first in four years. Turn it up to hear how Hayley, Jeremy, and Taylor have grown up.

Brad Paisley - Wheelhouse (Deluxe)
The handsome country star’s ninth album is receiving praise for its mission to earn the genre a wider audience.

Tyga - Hotel California
The L.A. rapper tries flying like Eagles with his third album, which features collaborations with label boss Lil Wayne, Game, and 2 Chainz.

Jake Bugg - Jake Bugg
The British singer-songwriter has stolen critics’ hearts with his debut album, which has already gone to the top of the U.K. charts.

The Postal Service - Give Up (Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition)
It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since Ben Gibbard, Jimmy Tamborello, and Jenny Lewis first got us swooning to their electronic pop on this platinum-selling debut.